Citizen Dave: I pressed the wrong button

As a politician, I went out of my way not to offend people. As a blogger, I don't mind offending powerful folks who I think are taking the world in the wrong direction, like the NRA and the Vatican.

But I never thought I'd get on the wrong side of the National Button Society. Still, I found a way in my latest op-ed for Isthmus.

Here's a real life letter to the editor:

In response to a comment made by Dave Cheslewicz [sic -- how quickly they forget] in his article "Is Madison still special?" on February 22, he stated "Magazines love top 10 lists. If there were a magazine for button collectors, I'm sure they would have their annual Best Cities for Buttons! Issue every February."

I would like to inform him and all readers that there is a magazine for button collectors. It is called the National Button Bulletin. The National Button Bulletin does not publish the "Best Cities for Buttons!," but has declared March as "Button Month!"

Button collectors have more than just a magazine to read. There is the National Button Society (NBS), the Wisconsin State Button Society (WSBS) and the Madison Button Club as well as button societies in many other states and the British Button Society. The NBS could actually be called the International Button Society since there are members from around the world. Most states with button societies also publish their own "Button Bulletin." We collect collectible clothing buttons, not political pin back buttons.

NBS holds an annual convention each year, in a different part of the U.S. This year we are thrilled that it will be at the Radisson Paper Valley in Appleton. It is open to the public August 15-17, 2013. The Madison Button Club will be hosting a Button Buy on Saturday June 22, 2013 (9 a.m.- 3 p.m., also open to the public) at Wildcat Lanes, 415 W. Verona Ave. in Verona. Additional information can be found at www.nationalbuttonsociety.org or www.wisconsinstatebuttonsociety.org.

Please come to one or both of these events to find out more about button collecting and our "Button magazines." The president of the National Button Society lives right here in Madison, as does the president of the Wisconsin State Button Society!!!!

Lisa Schulz, NBS President

Sorry, Ms. Schulz. I stand corrected.

Anyway, I'm sure there isn't a National Zipper Society or Zipper Magazine. I mean, what are the chances?